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Former Countries

Can you name these countries that either no longer exist, or are no longer sovereign?
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: December 23, 2019
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First submittedMay 16, 2015
Times taken125,309
Average score60.0%
Rating4.72
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Clue
Time span
Answer
East Berlin was its capital
1945–1990
East Germany
Czech Republic + Slovakia
1918–1992
Czechoslovakia
Its capital was Constantinople
330–1453
Byzantine Empire
Conquerors of the above
c. 1299–1923
Ottoman Empire
Split into 7 different countries
1918–1992
Yugoslavia
Most serene republic of the northern Adriatic
697–1797
Venice
In 2014, they voted against independence
843–1707
Scotland
It was led by Otto von Bismarck
1525–1871
Prussia
Country in the southeast of Germany
907–1871
Bavaria
Free city located between Poland and Germany
1920–1939
Danzig
Former superpower
1922–1991
Soviet Union
Led by a reincarnated Lama
1921–1951
Tibet
Won independence from Mexico
1836–1845
Texas
Losers of three Punic Wars
c. 814 BC–146 BC
Carthage
Conquered by Edward Longshanks
1216–1282
Wales
Became the 14th U.S. state
1777–1791
Vermont
Merged with Tanganyika to form Tanzania
1856–1964
Zanzibar
Japanese puppet state in northern China
1932–1945
Manchukuo
Greek city that Alexander never attempted to conquer
900s BC–192 BC
Sparta
Unrecognized white-ruled state that preceded Zimbabwe
1965–1979
Rhodesia
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108 Recent Comments
dt1
+16
Level 43
Sep 2, 2015
amazed that Vermont was the lowest percentage answer as there are only so many candidates for the 14th state and "this website is soooo American oriented" :)
dt1
+2
Level 43
Sep 2, 2015
mock sarcasm intended
PitifulExcuse
+2
Level 66
Feb 6, 2024
so you're actually being sincere?
DeusCaritasEst
+9
Level 55
Sep 2, 2015
People tend to assume it was one of the original colonies, simply because it's in New England. Same with Maine.
trombonekid98
+1
Level 71
Sep 2, 2015
Maine was my first guess, since I knew that it Vermont were among the first to gain statehood after the original colonies.
AlmostAGenius
+3
Level 85
Aug 12, 2022
Actually Maine didn’t become a state until 1820. It was the 23rd state under the Missouri Compromise.
ptilinopus
+12
Level 44
Nov 6, 2021
Amazed that Vermont is included as a valid independent country. NO other country recognised it as independent - not even the new United States! You might as well include Hutt River Principality, or Somaliland (though it still exists), also not recognised by any other country.Suggest replacing it with another more valid and recognizable independent country.
gnorrn
+12
Level 22
Nov 29, 2022
Let me guess -- you're from New Hampshire :)
nolem
+1
Level 31
Sep 7, 2024
real
perrucci
+1
Level 58
Sep 9, 2024
Agree with you. Also, hilarious if you are from NH!
beforeandafterscience
+3
Level 74
Sep 3, 2015
Scotland and Wales are still very much countries.
Kestrana
+17
Level 60
Sep 3, 2015
That do not exercise individual sovereignty... countries yes but not nation-state countries.
timshorts
+2
Level 59
May 13, 2021
Hmmmmm.

I'm Welsh, and I didn't get that one.

lilpick
+1
Level 61
May 13, 2021
go scot independence
Malbaby
+9
Level 70
Dec 5, 2015
Glad this has turned up again, I've missed it from one or two quizzes lately.
PitifulExcuse
+1
Level 66
Feb 6, 2024
Scotland yes. But is Wales? isn't it a principality?
JonOfKent
+2
Level 58
Sep 5, 2024
A principality is like a kingdom, but ruled (or "ruled") by a prince rather than a king. So it's no more or less likely in principle to be a country - Andorra, Liechtenstein and Monaco are all principalities.

My objection to Wales being included is that at the time it was conquered by Edward it wasn't really a country at all, but rather just a geographical expression, rather like talking about Scandinavia today.

sjj93gg
+1
Level 55
Sep 8, 2024
Adding to JonOfKent's comments (being a principality doesn't preclude somewhere from being a country, it's just a description of the type of rule/rule), Wales is only a principality in laymen's terms, there is no legal basis for it being referred to as a principality. The Prince of Wales is more of a convention than any actual legal "thing", and the mere existence of such a title does not make Wales a principality.
HydratedMite
+1
Level 67
Sep 10, 2024
Then why'd they have to take an independence referendum?
Kaljavaasi
+11
Level 46
Sep 4, 2015
East Rome as acceptable answer for Byzantine Empire please
kalbahamut
+10
Level 81
Jul 6, 2017
Or even just the Roman Empire, technically that's correct. It only started being called the Byzantine Empire by historians many centuries after the fact.
EcceHomo
+1
Level 84
Sep 27, 2023
Indeed. I tried Roman Empire and also Byzantium before scratching my head and having a rethink and typing Byzantine (which was accepted on its own) Empire.
louiseinlerwick
+10
Level 72
Sep 4, 2015
'In 2014, they voted against independence', hmmm, who could that be I wonder to myself (ignoring the 1707 clue) ... facepalm when I realised I actually voted in the election...
NEGeo
+2
Level 64
Apr 2, 2023
I tried crimea so...
jamesd
+3
Level 68
Dec 3, 2016
What about Central America (officially, the Federal Republic of Central America)? It was an independent and sovereign country for 20 years.
grunthall
+2
Level 26
Dec 3, 2016
Some more suggestions I have for you are Upper Volta and Dahomey.
IBRK
+4
Level 75
Mar 4, 2017
Upper volta was the former name of burkina faso
mattyroh07
+1
Level 24
Jan 2, 2018
I guessed both of those and then they weren't on here
Sifhraven
+1
Level 73
May 10, 2020
Wow quite a coincidence, just yesterday (evening and I have just woken up) I read about Dahomey, no idea how I ended up there, was clicking through wikipedia pages. I had actually strangely not heard of it before (while I do know Zanzibar, Rhodesia, Zaire etc)
Inferno46
+3
Level 54
Apr 6, 2022
I know I am a little bit late but Upper Volta and Dahomey are just the former names of Burkina Faso and Benin, just like Zaire to DRC.
MarinneNS
+10
Level 20
Jan 2, 2017
can you accept Byzantium on its own I got the question wrong because of it
kitsims
+2
Level 84
May 13, 2021
+1. I did get it in the end but it's very harsh not to accept Byzantium.
catlover2496
+1
Level 44
Feb 4, 2017
Greenland?
FacterLiger0804
+7
Level 40
May 13, 2021
Greenland was not and still isn't a full country recognized by us (yet lol). It's still just an autonomous country within Denmark.
SpartanLlama
+1
Level 74
May 28, 2017
Vermont I got on my first guess.
TravisKewley
+4
Level 25
Jul 6, 2017
I'm not sure if you meant llama in the Tibet one, but if it was really llama, it's spelled wrong.
benzeller
+20
Level 65
Dec 29, 2017
The Dalai Lama is a Buddhist monk and the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. A llama is a domesticated South American camelid, widely used as a meat and pack animal by Andean cultures since the Pre-Columbian era.
mrnafe
+5
Level 84
Dec 29, 2017
Probably my favourite misunderstanding so far haha 👍👍
DavidCheater
+8
Level 34
Jan 1, 2018
A one L lama, he's a priest

A two 'l' llama, he's a beast.

A three 'l' lllama is a big fire.

With apologies to Ogden Nash

idontlikeit2
+2
Level 75
Jul 29, 2017
Suggestions: Austria-Hungary and Poland-Lithuania
AAFANTASTIC
+1
Level 48
Nov 19, 2017
Very good quiz I also like how you included Manchuria however you could have included more countries such as: South Yemen, Malaya, Tanganyika, Austria hungry, Saar, United Arab republic, South Vietnam, Triest and Orange free state.
Baltimorean
+5
Level 66
Dec 29, 2017
Before it was Zimbabwe it was known as Southern Rhodesia to distinguish it from Northern Rhodesia, which became Zambia. The story is a little more complicated than that, but you should at least allow for Southern Rhodesia (currently it does not recognize it) and use the full name in the answer.
ptilinopus
+2
Level 44
Nov 6, 2021
Rhodesia does not fit the criteria - the state still exists, with exactly the same borders, just a change of name and government. Same issue as would be if Dahomey, Upper Volta, Zaire or Burma were to be included. Suggest replacing it with any one of a number of other former countries which are no longer sovereign. Like Biafra, South Yemen, or Gran Colombia.Or even Hawaii.
NikyVestern
+3
Level 55
Dec 29, 2017
The Yugoslavia question needs to be corrected, it split into 6 countries, not 7.
TheNewYork
+5
Level 35
Feb 11, 2018
This is American based. We recognize Kosovo.
CaliforniaYankee
+8
Level 20
Jul 3, 2018
No, technically, it split into 5; Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, The country that must not be named (FYROM), and The Union State of Serbia and Montenegro. Then later in 2006, a Montenegrin independence referendum split S&M into, well, Serbia and Montenegro. Then Kosovo became a self declared state two years later, with limited recognition.
wolfcat95
+3
Level 66
May 15, 2021
So... over time it split into SEVEN countries. Thank you for clearing that up.
Ereswent
+1
Level 32
Dec 29, 2017
Scotland and Wales are countries, They just aren't independent.
TangoMike
+10
Level 51
Dec 29, 2017
Name these countries that no longer exist, or are no longer sovereign.

Did you read the description?

karnag
+1
Level 36
Dec 17, 2018
In Scotland sovereignty has always been with the people, not in a government or a crown. Which is why the Queen/King would be 'Queen/King of Scots' rather than 'Queen/King of Scotland.' So as long as there are Scottish people (most in Scotland would describe themselve as 'Scottish' rather then 'British' according to census information), it is very much 'sovereign'. Perhaps the word used to describe whether a country is internationally recognised or not needs to be changed?
SolarFlare
+1
Level 10
Dec 29, 2017
Byzantium was the city the preceded Constantinople, which in turn preceded Istanbul. The Byzantine Empire was a separate entity entirely.
blizzrd33
+2
Level 80
May 13, 2021
It has two accepted meanings, one for the city and one for the empire and should be accepted in this quiz too.
weedlepte
+1
Level 57
Dec 29, 2017
Prussia and Bavaria didn't end until 1918
TheRatmeister
+11
Level 91
Jan 5, 2018
The description says sovereign. They were countries, sure, but they were part of the German Empire. It's similar to Scotland, England, Wales, and the United Kingdom.
Sealantmajor
+1
Level 54
Jan 3, 2018
You could include Hawaii, that one is also a former country.
Dollyfroggy
+2
Level 63
Dec 5, 2022
There's a lot of countries that they could include, if they had 3 states people would have said it's too US-centric.
ruftytufty
+4
Level 79
May 25, 2018
The polity conquered by Edward in 1282 wasn't Wales, It was Gwynedd.
Zaakna
+4
Level 52
Feb 28, 2019
Byzantium should also be accepted
KingWilwin
+2
Level 60
Dec 19, 2019
Can you accept 'Southern Rhodesia' for the last clue?
FadKrashmor
+1
Level 71
Jan 14, 2020
I am interested in Karnag's opinion above. However the fact of the matter is that the by the act of union in 1707, England and Scotland were united as one Kingdom under the name Great Britain. It seems rather romantic and anachronistic to view the monarch as Queen or King of Scots or of English, or even of Irish for that matter. It is true that sovereignty by our modern lights indeed lies with the people, but for the UK that sovereignty is expressed through the UK parliament.
Teegthebeeg
+1
Level 54
Dec 4, 2020
As a strict legal definition the UK legislature is described as "the Queen in Parliament". UK monarchs must give their assent to all Acts of Parliament for them to become law. Assent hasn't been withheld for more than 300 years, but it's still a requirement.
Arii78
+1
Level 45
May 10, 2020
I got confused between the dates and clues. Sometimes I forgot was the date meant and thought it was the date of the event in the clue... Maybe I should go sleep.
purple
+2
Level 65
Jun 17, 2020
The sultan of Oman lives in Zanzibar nowwwww!

"That's just where he lives."

mindwarp69
+1
Level 70
Sep 30, 2020
Rhodesia as former Zimbabwe is a bit vague as Zambia was known as Northern Rhodesia and Zimbabwe as Southern Rhodesia...
ptilinopus
+3
Level 44
Nov 6, 2021
Only before independence. When Zambia acheived independence, the name Southern Rhodesia became Rhodesia. The problem with using it in this quiz, is that if as Rhodesia it was not independent, it does not fulfil the criteria of the quiz. If it was independent, then it should still be excluded, because it still exists, with a change of government and name. In any case, it is not a former independent country.
dogmeat
+2
Level 69
Sep 30, 2020
Has this quiz generated the most bickering ever?

I add my two pence worth to get it going again.

It is ironic all the debate about Macedonia and the Greeks passionately claiming it and Alexander when the Ancient Greeks definitely didn't consider Macedonia part of Greece and described its people (Philip and Alexander included) as barbarians.

Right up until they were conquered by the 'barbarians' who suddenly became Greek

jmellor13
+5
Level 67
May 14, 2021
I just think it's bizarre that a man, however impressive, that lived 2300 years ago could inspire genuine hostility between countries. I think it's childish when I see grown men fight over sports teams, but the notion that these countries are still actively disputing where someone was born 23 centuries ago is both amazing and very sad.
Geekfan
+1
Level 45
Jan 6, 2021
What about Zaire?
bn9043
+2
Level 64
Apr 17, 2022
Zaire is different. Zaire only changed its name to DR Congo, it didn't gain or lose any territory.

I think this is right, correct me if I'm wrong.

Yeoryios
+1
Level 72
Jan 26, 2021
Prussia still existed as kingdom during the German Empire. The Kaiser was both the Emperor of the Germans and King of Prussia. Considering that other countries like Zanzinbar which was under British soverenty are included on this list, Prussia's end date should be changed to 1933 when the Nazi's took power and rid of the country.
Inferno46
+1
Level 54
Apr 6, 2022
Never in the quiz did it say that Zanzibar was an independent nation. It only said that the territories that were considered Zanzibar and Tanganyika controlled by the British combined to form Tanzania.
Dollyfroggy
+3
Level 63
Dec 5, 2022
Zanzibar being on here implies it. However, Zanzibar was independent...
blizzrd33
+2
Level 80
May 13, 2021
Hawaii should be included before Vermont or Texas.
lucd13
+1
Level 70
May 13, 2021
Neither of the years given as clues to Texas and Vermont would allude to Hawai'i which joined the Union only in 1959.
Dollyfroggy
+1
Level 63
Dec 5, 2022
There's no reason for Hawaii to be included over the others...
TheLonelyAlula
+1
Level 55
Sep 5, 2024
Well, Hawaii was an internationally recognized state which lasted more than a handful of years, which Vermont and Texas were not. Vermont and Texas weren't really independent countries any more than Abkhazia or South Ossetia are independent countries, which is to say, debatably so.
lucd13
+6
Level 70
May 13, 2021
Please accept Byzantium.

According to Wikipedia: 'The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire, or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire in its eastern provinces..'.

Byzantium refers not just to the city but the empire as a whole.

bestanford
+1
Level 72
May 13, 2021
Agreed
turnbacktwo
+1
Level 43
May 13, 2021
Yes
nsoper
+2
Level 67
May 13, 2021
In what sense was Rhodesia (South) not recognized?
CanadaMonarchist
+3
Level 83
Nov 4, 2021
No nation recognized it as an independent state unfortunately
TheLonelyAlula
+2
Level 55
Sep 5, 2024
Unfortunately? Fortunately.
WelshWizard
+1
Level 86
May 13, 2021
If you're going by the de facto loss of independence from Wales (i.e., its conquest), surely the case should be the same for Scotland (i.e., when the crown was joined with England under James I/IV)? Or go by both their official, de jure, political unions (Wales was in the 1530s, under Henry VIII).
AbiA
+1
Level 86
Dec 19, 2022
James I/VI
Historyman0
+1
Level 38
May 13, 2021
Gran Columbia?
WeaponXtreme310
+2
Level 38
May 13, 2021
Byzantium should be a type in as well, instead of just Byzantine
LuigiDood227
+1
Level 70
May 13, 2021
When you try Tuva, East Turkistan, and even Acre only to realize it was Tibet
FlyingG
+4
Level 69
May 15, 2021
I mean, the Lama clue is quite easy in my opinion.
lxj30
+3
Level 14
May 13, 2021
Tibet hasn't been independent since the 1700s, it was part of the Qing dynasty and then the Republic of China before the communists.
Inferno46
+4
Level 54
Apr 6, 2022
... But it was independent when China split apart between warlords and even before that.
CanadaMonarchist
+3
Level 83
Oct 26, 2021
Rhodesians never die
thegungler
+3
Level 52
Oct 9, 2023
Actually, Zimbabwean revolutionaries killed at least 1,361 Rhodies, proving scientifically that they can die.
jamaltepec
+2
Level 66
Jun 21, 2022
Was the Byzantine Empire a country? Why woudn't Byzantium suffice?
elcampeador
+2
Level 79
Nov 29, 2022
Byzantium was the name of a city, and it is the reason we call it the 'Byzantine Empire'. It is not used to reference the empire itself.
Weatherball
+1
Level 44
Oct 24, 2022
Byzantium should be accepted
Quizmaster
+2
Level ∞
May 22, 2024
Fixed
rabble
+1
Level 68
Nov 29, 2022
Fun quiz, ty.

I'd like another couple of minutes

Azerk
+1
Level 65
Nov 29, 2022
I'm surprised Vermont is so low. I'd figure at least the Americans would get it right, but maybe not
GrammarBeane1
+2
Level 83
Nov 29, 2022
As an American, I never learned Vermont was it's own country--I had to learn that from Jetpunk!
Jacktheguy
+1
Level 91
Nov 29, 2022
In school we learned that Vermont was not one of the original 13 colonies but I don't remember if they ever specified that it was its own country at one point.
cashmercury
+2
Level 66
Nov 29, 2022
Actually Yugoslavia ceased to exist in 2006 only.The fact that some of its territories became independent doesn't mean it "died" directly
Endersaur23
+1
Level 24
Nov 29, 2022
Just because Scotland and Wales are part of the UK they are still countries just in an alliance

Of some sort that combines them

SpartanLlama
+1
Level 74
May 18, 2023
Just missed Manchukuo
octopus72
+1
Level 69
May 30, 2023
correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't Prussia's end date be 1867, when it joined the North German Confederation? 1871 was when it joined the German Empire
rumyantsev
+4
Level 66
Oct 29, 2023
This is just me being pedantic, but the state of Mengjiang (sometimes known as Mengkukuo) was also a Japanese puppet in northern China during WW2, lasting until 1945, and should be an acceptable answer. Sorry to bother you in 2023, QM.
Philip09
+3
Level 65
Aug 9, 2024
Please accept "Southern Rhodesia" (and maybe even "South Rhodesia") for "Rhodesia". Other than that, great quiz! It was very fun.
MaaaxiKing
+4
Level 52
Sep 5, 2024
East Germany was formed in 1949.
RandomMensch
+3
Level 42
Jan 9, 2025
East Germany, or the GDR was not created until 1949. From 1945 to 1949 it was not remotely a sovereign country, but an occupation zone of the Soviets.
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